(TOMS RIVER, APRIL 2) – Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler Monday evening was
the featured speaker at an education forum at the Grace of Peace Church in

Toms River. Before a crowd of several hundred, he argued that it
is time toseriously address New Jersey’s faltering
education system.

“One definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing over and

over and expect a different result,” said Schundler. “Simply
throwing moreand more money at our failing school system
won’t do anything to fix theproblems – all it will do
is waste even more money than we’re wasting now.

“New Jersey already spends more money on education on a per-student basis

than any state in the Union, and what has it gotten us? Nothing
but morebureaucracy, more dropouts, and more tax money
being taken out of ourpockets.

“If we really want to see better results, it’s time to make real changes.

We need to reform tenure, so teachers who have lost their calling
can bereplaced by teachers who want to teach. We need to
improve accountability,raise educational standards, and
give parents more choices over the schoolstheir children
attend.

“These are common-sense solutions to the problems we’re talking about.
All

it takes to enact them is a leader with the courage to
take on the specialinterests to get it done. Donnie
DiFrancesco and the Democrats won’t get itdone, because
they’re in the hip pocket of the teachers’ union.

“By contrast, I’ve got a proven track record. I’ve taken on the special

interests to fight for what’s best for the citizens of Jersey
City – I’vegot the political scars to show for it –
and Jersey City’s a better place tolive, work, and
raise a family.

“Now I want to take the fight to the special interests in Trenton. We can

raise educational standards, lower property taxes, cut state
income taxes,get rid of those darn Parkway tolls, roll
back the toll and PATH fareincreases at the Hudson River
crossings, and control suburban sprawl when wereverse Mt.
Laurel and revitalize our inner cities – if we can elect aGovernor
with the courage to lead and win.”